Article Text
Rare disease
CASE REPORT
POEMS syndrome: a rare cause of exudative ascites and chronic peripheral neuropathy
Summary
POEMS syndrome (Peripheral neuropathy, Organomegaly, Endocrinopathy, M protein, Skin changes) is a rare plasma cell disorder with multisystem involvement
A 40-year-old man with a chronic history of unexplained peripheral neuropathy , presented with exudative ascites.He was found to have an incidental osteolytic lesion of the sacrum proven to be a plasmacytoma. Immunoelectrophoresis for monoclonal protein was negative.
In addition, the patient was found to have hepatosplenomegaly, erectile dysfunction, hyperprolactinaemia and hypothyroidism.
The patient, was given steroid along with lenalidomide, and showed a good clinical response.
- thyroid disease
- haematology (incl blood transfusion)
- peripheral nerve disease